freedom force intl - individualism v collectivism

hattip iOwnTheWorld -> "Animated series exploring the substance behind the political terminology used in contemporary debates: te research of Mr.G.Edward Griffin reveals how all viewpoints can be stripped down to 2 basic positions.

Discover how the different approaches of Collectivism and Individualism impact on all aspects of our lives, from human rights, governmental authority and the use of force.

#INTRO (above) - click below links to watch the rest of series on Youtube
#P1. The Nature and Origin of Human Rights
#P2. Group Supremacy
#P3. Coercion vs Freedom
#P4. Equality and Inequality under the Law
#P5. Proper Role ofGovernment"

These videos from Feedom Force International. Their site has some interesting information, about the issues:

"Your freedom is under attack. Even your freedom to read these words may soon be denied – all in the name of fighting terrorism, or crime, or drugs, or pollution of the environment. The greatest tragedy of our modern age is the decline of freedom throughout the world leading to the establishment of a modern, high-tech feudalism. Totalitarianism is in your future; and, to an alarming degree, it is already in your present.

Free men are allowing this to happen because, presently, they are powerless to stop it. Even in nations where leaders are elected, the financial and political forces that supply them with money and media support receive more loyalty than those who merely cast their votes. While most people are content to fill their lives with work and play, there are those who have much larger designs. They think of themselves as natural leaders who have a solemn responsibility to rule. They speak about democratic values and human rights, but they do not trust the common man with self-government. They have perfected the illusion that voters determine their own political destiny, but they also have created mechanisms for altering that destiny to fit their own agendas. The mission of Freedom Force is to expose those agendas and create counter mechanisms to overcome them.

Let us be specific. Collectivists advocate controlled elections, controlled media, controlled education, the elimination of free speech, disarmament of the population, fiat money, a cartelized health-care system, military imperialism, and global government.

The ideology of Freedom Force is individualism, the opposite of collectivism at every point. Individualists advocate honest elections, a competitive media, an educational system responsive to parents, encouragement of free speech, a well-armed citizenry, sound money, freedom-of-choice in health care, a non-interventionist foreign policy, and national sovereignty."

... and since the topic of America drilling for its own oil is being dicussed quite a bit on the blogosphere, I'll also include this comment from Mr. Griffin:

"A large proportion of the money we (USA) pay to foreign oil producers is funneled immediately to the multinational oil companies who have contracts to process the oil and deliver it. Some of the largest of those, of course, are U.S. based, although that does not guarantee that the money would return to America.

It sometimes is theorized that exporting our fiat money for valuable resources and goods is advantageous to America because foreigners get worthless paper while we get things of value. I do not agree with this, however, because a great deal of that money eventually does comes back home to buy equities in American corporations and banks, real estate, mineral resources, and political influence. Eventually those who received our dollars end up owning huge chunks of America.

When all is considered, it is my opinion that it would be to our clear advantage if we were oil independent and once again had strong domestic industry. History has shown that those who produce, rule. Those who do not, serve."

Indeed!